https://www.facebook.com/SapeloIsland?tn=-UC*F
Protect History on Sapelo Island
Saturday, October 19th, went from a day of celebration to sadness. Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society hosted a festival on Sapelo Island, highlighting the culture and heritage of the Geechee community on the remote historical island. Food, music, storytelling, and crafts enchanted the crowd that ferried from the mainland to the island that Saturday–approximately 500 or more people of all ages took part. But by the end of the day, tragedy struck when the gangway between the dock and ferry gave way and twenty people tumbled into the Duplin River, and seven lost their lives. See below for more details.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/least-7-people-killed-georgia-ferry-dock-collapse-officials
Connie and I arrived on Sapelo Island three days later for a book talk at the R. J. Reynolds Mansion with a packed room of history lovers. However, most of the conversation that long day surrounded grappling with the aftermath of the accident.
The driving motivation for writing The Last Laird of Sapelo was bringing to the forefront of the readers the history and heritage behind the Spalding family’s legacy on the Geechee descendants who call Sapelo Island their ancestral home for the past 225 years. Why have the descendants of the original slaves who were brought to Sapelo Island by Thomas Spalding around 1800 clung to this remote barrier island off the Georgia coast, near Darien. Why after Sherman marched through Georgia in late 1864 did virtually all the displaced Geechee families find their way back to Sapelo Island and struggle to rebuild their communities, and then endure the changes forced upon them since then? Why do the present descendants continue to cling to their heritage and culture and fight progress to preserve their way of life? I believe they share my belief that HISTORY MATTERS!
What do you think about the situation on Sapelo Island?
Who has ventured to the historic remote barrier island? How did you feel after your visit?
Protect History in Darien, too!
On a positive side, in Darien, the second oldest town in Georgia, the revitalization and growth in this bustling seaport town is amazing. Read the attached newsletter to learn more. Better yet, plan a visit to Darien, the shrimp capital of Georgia!
November Newsletter
T. M. BROWN UPDATE
Going into 2025, I want to streamline getting information available to you. Please bookmark my author webpage and also follow @tmbrownauthor on Facebook and @t.m.brown.author on Instagram. You can also find my page on Goodreads and Amazon and Bookbub.com.
Like many of you, we all get too many nuisance emails. So, please stay connected on social media in the coming New Year. I will also be digging into my next novel, but you’ll have to check back to learn more or see me at an upcoming event.
Happy Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas,
HISTORY & FAMILY MATTER!
T. M. “Mike” Brown
